[Growster...]

We weren't going to grow cucumbers this year, as we may/may not ever, be moving, but as the market's so slow, we decided to put some veg in 'The Patch' at home, and so there's a big quickie plan for runner beans, toms, salads, and now, cucumbers.

On Thursday, we loomed into our local GC, and saw they had some plants at £1.25 a pop, and the seed leaves were smaller than a 10p piece, so just for old times sake, we said, 'Naaaaahfergeddit - grow your own...'

We bought some seed (T and M Burpless tasty green F1) and I'd sown them by lunchtime on Thursday, and bless my soul alive, they've all (12 seds) germinated by this morning...

That is a record in my book - about 70 hours max, so there is something in this late sowing lark! Last year they took ages, and were tempermental all the time, in fact, it took the tender loving care of Mrs G to de-stress them time and time again, and with a quick feed, and soothing sounds, they were OK again.

Of course, fingers crossed this year, they're only tiddlers still...

[arugula]

That is quick! 

[shokkyy]

My panic late sowing of squash (after I'd ripped the top off three plants and killed another two with stem rot) was equally fast. I sowed three varieties and all three came up within three days. Crossing my fingers they've still got time to give me a crop.

[Growster...]

That is quick! 

They're out in the greenhouse now Argyllie - hopefully spreading their leaves...

[Growster...]

My panic late sowing of squash (after I'd ripped the top off three plants and killed another two with stem rot) was equally fast. I sowed three varieties and all three came up within three days. Crossing my fingers they've still got time to give me a crop.

That's pretty damn quick too Shokkyy!

We regularly hoe over spring onions, and luckily they can be sown in succession, but sometimes that takes a year...

[shokkyy]

All types of onions just seem to be generally slow though, don't they.

[Growster...]

All types of onions just seem to be generally slow though, don't they.

Yes, they do seem to take ages, and this year, we're trying every conceivable way so at least we get a crop, where last year, they failed in the dry spring!

[arugula]

That is quick! 

They're out in the greenhouse now Argyllie - hopefully spreading their leaves...

Ours have failed - two varieties. I'm wondering if its too late to try again with new seed..

[Growster...]

That is quick!  

They're out in the greenhouse now Argyllie - hopefully spreading their leaves...

Ours have failed - two varieties. I'm wondering if its too late to try again with new seed..

Worth a pop Argyllie - the seeds you buy (as above) just may be from a similar batch!

They went into individual pots, and stood in a very sunny bedroom, so there was nothing extraordinary about the way they started!

[arugula]

Worth a pop Argyllie - the seeds you buy (as above) just may be from a similar batch!

Marketmore and Crystal Lemon, seeds two and one year old respectively so I think they should have been OK. Maybe I will just buy some more as we get a good crop when they do germinate.

[shokkyy]

I'm doing Crystal Lemon this year (seeds from Premier Seeds on ebay) and I had 100% germination on them. They seem to be very tough little seedlings too, growing on very well with no babying at all.

[Auntiemogs]

100% germination for me too (6 Crystal Lemon, 12 Beth Alpha F1).
Squash & courgettes however...

[mumofstig]

I've managed to grow 4 so far., 2Carmen and 2 Marketmore 76 now I just need to keep them alive 

ref squash, all my varieties seemed to take ages this year and so far no Uchiki Kuri at all  despite trying a new batch of seeds 

[arugula]

They seem to be very tough little seedlings too, growing on very well with no babying at all.

They will be.

[JayG]

My tally so far (I try to avoid sowing more than I need because it's one type of veg plant I can't give away!)

Marketmore cuke - target 2, sown 20, plants 1 (but it was 5 year-old seed!)

Passandra cuke - target 2, sown 2, plants 2 (jolly well think so at 50p per seed!)
Uchiki Kuri - target 3, sown 3, plants 3 (MoS's recommendation, or at least it was until this year!  )

Defender courgette - target 3, sown 3, plants 2 1/2 (the third one is stunted and looks as if it might stay that way.) 
Sweetheart melon - target 1, sown 3, plants 3 (oops!)